What is abdominal breathing?

Abdominal breathing is a slow breathing technique in which you breathe while your stomach swells.

It is called abdominal breathing because technically it is done through the lower abdomen rather than the chest.

The advantage of this technique is that it promotes breathing with a much greater amplitude than classical breathing, which only goes through the chest. It stimulates the diaphragm and allows the lungs to expand more.

As a result, the quality of oxygenation is better.

What are the benefits?

There are several benefits to abdominal breathing.

On the one hand it contributes to a good oxygenation of the cells, on the other hand it allows you to release stress and relax.

In fact, abdominal breathing requires you to concentrate only on your breathing, which involves a natural relaxation.

Breathe in through the nose, inflating the abdomen, and out through the mouth, pausing for a few seconds between each breath.

When to practise?

Many techniques, such as yoga, sophrology and meditation, use abdominal breathing to reduce stress and anxiety.

In everyday life, it can be practised to combat episodes of stress, anxiety and tension.

Abdominal breathing is useful because it improves the oxygen supply to the body.

When the quality of breathing is better, the body is better, and when the body is better, the balance of the nervous system is better, which eliminates the production of cortisol, the stress hormone.

In fact, everything circulates better, we eliminate toxins more easily.

The abdominal breathing also allows for better emotional stability, deep calm and is good for increasing the ability to concentrate.

How to proceed?

The principle of abdominal breathing is very simple:

• Sit comfortably in a chair with a straight back or lie on your back and close your eyes.
• Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest to feel the coming and going of your breath.
• Breathe in deeply through your nose, expanding your abdomen as much as possible.
• Breathe out, expanding your abdomen as much as possible.
• Repeat this for 5 to 10 minutes until you feel completely relaxed.

What should be avoided during abdominal breathing?

There is no special care needed to practise abdominal breathing as it is a completely natural gesture.

What are the risks?

There is no health risk in abdominal breathing because it is a natural, mechanical gesture.

On the other hand, it would not be very comfortable for a patient with heart problems or someone who suffers from asthma attacks.

You should know that a baby breathes through the abdomen; it is only as we grow, as we gain weight and the diaphragm presses on the abdomen, that we get used to breathing through the upper part of the body.